Safety apparatus for indicating to the engine-driver whether the line is free or blocked.



H. FRIQUET. SAFETY APPARATUS FOR INDICATING To THE ENGINE DRIVER WHETHER THE LINE IS FREE OR BLOCKED.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 7. 1913- 1.21 3AM Patented Jan. 23,1917.

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APPLICATION FILED OCT. 7. ms

Patented Jan. 23, 1917.

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HENRI FRIQUET, OF HAVRE, FRANCE.

SAFETY APPARATUS FOR IN DICATING TO THE ENGINE-1331"] ER WHETI-ZER THE LINE IS FREE R BLOCKED.

Application filed October 7, 1913.

To all whom it may concern,

Be it known that I, HENRI FRI UET, a citizen of the French Republic, residing at 30 Rue de Fcamp, Havre, Seine lnfrieure, Republic of France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Apparatus for Indi *ating to the EngineDriver Whether the Line is Free or Blocked, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a safety apparatus for indicating to the engine driver Whether the line is free or blocked.

The apparatus essentially consists of three elements; the first of which is placed on the line and operated from the signal so that when the signal is up the element occupies the vertical position; the second element is composed of a spring influenced shoe adapted to slide upon the first element when the same is at vertical position so that said shoe or lever is lifted and operates the third element. This third element serves for operating the brake and the alarm whistle. The alarm whistle will sound until the engine driver pulls the handle of the apparatus in order to bring the different elements back to their normal positions.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of the shoe. Fig. 2 is an elevation seen from the left to the right of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation seen from the right to the left of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front view partly in section of the element which controls the valve of the alarm signal. Fig. 5 is a section on line 99 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing 11 designates a bracket fixed on the engine on which by means of a hinge 12 a cylindrical box 13 is fixed in which a spring 1& is located, said spring being designed to maintain the shoe 15 in the horizontal position. This spring 1 1 acts upon a rod 16 the lower end 17 of which is hingedly connected with one end of the shoe 15. This shoe is of triangular shape in order to facilitate its contact with the abutment and it is adapted to pivot around an axle 18 fixed in the lower part of a bracket 19 which is fixed 0n the engine. A vertical arm 20 of the shoe is connected by means of a pivot pin 21 with a connecting rod 22, the other end of which is adapted to put in operation the herein described alarm mechanism.

The third element of the apparatus con- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 191?.

Serial No. 793,803.

sists of a support 23 which carries three brackets 2 25, 26 in which a horizontal rod 27 and a vertical rod 28 are guided. The horizontal rod 27 is composed of a cylindrical part 29 and of a part 30 of square cross section guided in a rectangular opening 31 of the vertical rod 28 and further of a part 32 of rectangular cross section which has at its end a handle not shown in the drawing and designed to be operated by the engine driver for bringing the different parts to the normal positions. On the cylindrical part 29 of the horizontal rod 2'? a spiral spring 33 is wound which is maintained under tension as shown in Fig. a when the vertical rod 28 is in the lifted position in which it is maintained through the action of spring 34 so that the shoulder of the horizontal rod 27 bears against the rod 28 at the lower part of the opening 31. In alinement with the horizontal rod 27 the valve rod 36 is arranged which is maintained through the action of a spring 37 in such a position that the valve cone 38 closes the valve 39.

The bracket 25 carries in its upper part a shaft 40 on which a lever 41 is pivotally mounted which is composed of two parts 42, 43 standing at right angles the one with regard to the other. The horizontal part 42 rests upon the upper end of the vertical rod 28 and the vertical part as carries an axle as on which the connecting rod 22 is hinged.

The device operates as follows :When a train arrives at a signal which is at the stop position and if for any reason whatsoever, fog or the like, the engine driver should overlook the signal, a suitable abutment being placed on the track the shoe 15 mounted on the engine will come in contact with the abutment so that in being lifted rocks on the axle 18 whereby a push is exerted on the connecting rod 22 so that the lever 41 is turned. In consequence of this movement the rod 28 is sufficiently depressed to release the lower wall of the opening 31 from on gagement with the shoulder 35 of the horizontal rod 27 so that said horizontal rod is suddenly pushed to the left through the action of the spring 33 and butts against the rod 36 of the valve 39. This rod 36 lifts the valve cone 38 ofl' its seat so that fluid pressure, such as air or steam under pressure can pass through the valve and operate the alarm signal which is operated until the engine driver pulls the handle of the rod 27 to bring the same back, causing the shoulder to engage the lower wall of the opening 31, retaining the compression of the spring 33, and permitting the tension of the spring 37 to again seat the cone 38. In this manner the engine driver is warned that the line is blocked and that he must not continue to travel in the same direction. If the line is free, that is to say if the signal stands parallel with the line, the abutment is lowered so that the engine can run over the abutment without any effect on the safety device.

The spring 37 on the valve stem 36, is sufficiently strong to maintain the valve 38 in closed position under normal conditions. The tension of the spring 33 is much greater than that of the spring 37 and when released, as described, is sufficient to overcome the tension of the spring 37 so that the valve 38 is raised from its seat.

It is to be understood that the invention is not strictly limited to the construction described and shown in the accompanying drawings but that it can vary without departing from the principle set forth as regards forms, arrangements, sizes, proportions and material according to requirement.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A signal apparatus comprising a pivotally supported triangular actuating member, means fo maintaining one end of the actuating member normally depressed, aconnecting rod having one end secured to the actuating member, a second pivotally supported triangular actuating member secured to the opposite end of the connecting rod, a resiliently supported rod disposed in the path of movement of the second actuating member and provided with a slot, a rod disposed through the slot and provided with a locking means cooperating with the wall of the slot when the resiliently supported rod is in raised position, means for actuating the rod longitudinally when unlocked by depression of the resiliently supported rod, and an audible alarm disposed in the path of movement of the rod disposed through the slot and arranged to be operated by movement in one direction of the last named rod.

2. A signal apparatus comprising a pivotally supported triangular actuating memher, a rod having its lower end pivoted to the actuating member, a casing pivotally supported and arranged to receive the opposite end of the rod, a spring disposed in the disposed through the slot and provided with V a locking means cooperating with the wall of the slot when the resiliently supported rod is in raised position, means for actuating the rod longitudinally when unlocked by depression of the resiliently supported rod, and an audible alarm disposed in the path of movement of the rod disposed through the slot and arranged to be operated by movement in one direction of the last named rod.

3. A signal apparatus comprising an actuating rod, a rockably supported actuated member connected to the rod, a movable rod disposed in the path of movement of the actuated member andnormally retained in elevated position, an alarm actuating rod disposed through the movable rod and adapted to be locked against movement in one direction thereby until movement of the actuating member releases same, means for moving the actuating rod in one direction when released, and an audible alarm disposed in the path of movement of the actuating rod.

4. A signal apparatus comprising a normally elevated rod having an opening therethrough, means for depressing the rod at a predetermined point, an actuating rod disposed through the opening and provided with a locking shoulder operative when the first named rod is in elevated position. means for moving the actuating rod longitudinally when released, and an audible alarm disposed in the path of movement when the actuating rod is released.

5. A signal apparatus comprising an audible alarm controlled by a valve, a spring pressed stem connected to and extending from the valve. an actuating rod disposed in alinement with the valve stem. means for locking the actuating rod against movement, means for unlocking the locking means and pivotally supported actuating means for actuating the unlocking means.

In testimony whereof- I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRI FBIQUET.

Copies of this patent mav be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0., i 

